US

A 6-1 win to open Gold Cup group play. A first half hat trick from Chris Wondolowski despite the fact that he was carrying the weight of an extra “W” on his back. Landon Donovan scoring his 52nd international goal as well as his 50th and 51st international assist (interesting backstory there). Goals from former Union man Michael Orozco Fiscal and everybody’s favorite Stuart Holden. Mix Diskerud is cap-tied. Despite the fact that Jack McInerney didn’t get into the game—and he will soon enough, oh yes he will—it was worth staying up until the end, even if the end came around 1 am.

Wondolowski so enjoyed being cheered for a change after scoring in front of the Portland crowd that he hoped the fence after scoring his first goal. “Pretty different, usually it’s the opposite of that. These fans are amazing. They provide such atmosphere that it’s great no matter what…I was pretty excited, and to see those guys going crazy, yeah, I just hopped over the wall and wanted to go up there.”

Donovan said, “It was a great night, the crowd was great, the energy was great, I thought we started well. I was a little disappointed to give up a goal, but I think it was a great night for us and a great night for the team and a good start to the tournament.”

Interestingly, Jurgen Klinsmann said Wondolowski and Orozco Fiscal were selected because the game was played on turf and Herculez Gomez and Oguchi Oneywu both have had knee injuries.

Klinsmann said of whether Jack McInerney can expect serious minutes during the tournament,

“I think for a player like Jack, right now it’s a tremendous learning curve. You train every day with these guys and you see, ‘Okay this is my club level and this is the national team’. He’s coming along, we’re happy with him, we see him, we see his talent and he’s getting more confident every time he’s getting on the practice field.

“In the Gold Cup, it’s a bit tricky because we can only sub three guys. It would have been easier maybe (with) two or three preparations games, then you throw him in there to get a couple of minutes in, it’s no problem. But now with the rules, only having three, you want to make sure that you make the right ones based on what you see really in training as well, but he’s on a good path.”

Remember how, not so long ago, there was widespread doubt about Klinsmann’s project to transform the USMNT? The AP says now Klinsmann’s plan appears “masterful.” Sure, it was only Belize, you might reasonably think, but isn’t it about time the US put up the kind of scoreline that their opponent’s quality deserved? Klinsmann said, “We took it seriously. We mentioned that before, yesterday and the last couple of days. The team was very focused. They wanted to get the goals, and they did. And therefore, we are very satisfied.

At MLSsoccer.com, Matthew Doyle says that one thing that was learned from the last two games is that Klinsmann must find a way to get Bradley, Donovan, and Holden on the field together. “The main issue,” Doyle writes, “is that I’m not sure Holden recognizes our own defensive weak spots as quick as he needs to—he’s always looking for passing lanes and pressure points, which would force Bradley into more of a shield or even destroyer role. Holden’s good, but I’m not sure he’s good enough to justify that.”

Altidore said, “I’m excited; anybody that knows anything about football knows that the Barclays Premier League, when you look at everything as a full package, is the biggest league in the world. I’m thrilled to be here and I’m looking forward to getting adjusted as quickly as possible. It’s a fantastic club, everyone here is so welcoming, I’m really excited about this season—it has everything here, all the combinations to be a big club so I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

Philadelphia Union

Leo Fernandes is thankful to have had the opportunity to start in the last two Union games. “It was a great opportunity for me. It was like a dream come true. It was probably one of the toughest conditions [I could play in]. But I felt like I did well. So I’ll now be ready for anything.”

Fernandes said he likes playing as a central attacking midfielder. “I just like the idea of having the ball at my feet. I like to control possession and try to make the game. I’d like to play there again.”

Queens Councilman Leroy Comrie says the proposed stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park won’t work, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. says siting a new stadium in his neighborhood would make sense, and NYCFC spokeswoman Risa Heller says the team is considering all options.